At Cròileagan Siorrachd Àir a Tuath (North Ayrshire Gaelic Baby & Toddler Group) we aim to provide the opportunity for children (6 months to 4 years), their parents and carers to learn the Gaelic language, through talking, songs and games in a relaxed and welcoming environment. 

As well as our weekly sessions at Ardrossan and West Kilbride we value the opportunity to share Gaelic cultural events with our community.  Imbolc (in the belly) was the start of spring for the Celts, midway between winter solstice and spring equinox, a time to celebrate moving from the dark of winter to the light of spring.

We will provide fun, active workshops to look at our food, how to make use of recycled materials as part of growing and storing vegetables. What foods are in season, when stored correctly, can be used even at the end of winter. What can be cooked with these ingrediants ? Brot (soup), Bannock bread and finish with something sweet? of course, all the best meals do. At the end of the day we will sit down with our families and invited guests from the community to enjoy a meal. As together all of the workshops will have contributed to the meal. And of course all the workshops will be bilingual, Scottish and Gaelic.

Workshops will include;

Making plant pots from old news papers, filling with compost and planting seeds. Cress seeds will give a fast growing result for our children to take home and watch them grow into something they can eat. A bilingual instruction sheet will also be provided to take home, we hope our families will make more pots at home and enjoy planting their own vegetables.

Recycled materials from around the home; can we make table decorations ? A spring gift for loved ones ? The symbols for Imbolc are the Snowdrop and Light, representing it as a time when the seasons are moving from the dark of winter into the light of spring. Children will be encouraged to bring materials from home and with some stock materials and some imagination we will get creative.

Cooking; A menu of traditional Gaelic foods such as Bannock bread, Brot (soup) will be made with the children preparing vegetables, mixing and stiring. Bilingual recipe cards will have been premade and provided to take home. The recipes will be fully costed to show how much it will cost to make at home.

We will have opportunity for some Gaelic songs and story telling by and for the children after our meal, making for a Gaelic festival to be rounded off in the traditional way.

Our Cròileagan has a strong group of committee members and volunteers who will work together to organise and run this day, however some training is required to make this day possible in the form of the Basic Food Hygiene training, the cost of which is included in this application. Having this training will future proof us with providing more activities of this nature for our families. The same is for aprons for volunteers and children, having these purchased will mean we can extend the learning from this festival back into our weekly sessions.

Costs of this event to include;

• Basic food hygiene training for 3 volunteers @ £105 per person = £315
• Travel to training (Kilmarnock from Three Towns) £20
• Aprons for volunteers and participants £120
• Soap for hand washing, washing up liquid £10
• Ingredients for Imbolc £175
• Materials (admin, displays, print recipes etc)  £100
• Venue rental £120
• Tea, coffee, juice etc £75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We would like to apply for funding to take the residents of Saltcoats High Flats on trips and outings throughout the year. As an older community of people with a range of mobility needs, many of us live by ourselves. We can go days without talking to people. The High Flats Afternoon Club brings us together with the common theme of living in the same buidling. 

We would like to be able to book some trips and days out but due to many different mobility needs, such as walking frames, sticks etc, we need accessible transport. Transport is very expensive and if we were to get £1000, we could use a varierty of taxis, minibus or small bus hires to take us on some days out. This will also allow us to organise mobility scooters and wheelchairs on location when out and about too.

£500 for transport costs

£500 for entrance fees, food and drink etc.

We were successful last year and one of the residents expressed her appreciation and said " this is the first time I have been out in years on my own without having to rely on my family". This made it all worthwhile. We managed a trip to Belfast to the Titanic Museum and this was the first time some of our members had left Scotland or been on a boat. Despite our ages, there are still lots of "firsts" to experience.

Last year were able to achieve all our trips on £800 but with rising costs, £1000 this will allow us to keep it free for all residents, many of whom live on a limited pension

Everyone an Artist has been running from the North Ayrshire Foodbank in Ardrossan for two years. Our group aims to offer a safe, judgment free space to be creative, learn new skills and combat social isolation by offering community. Facilitated by a local participatory artist and the Trussell Trust's North Ayrshire Community Campaigner, participants will unlock and develop new skills, such as printmaking, textiles, sculpture, drawing etc alongside having the opportunity to use these skills to address local issues that matter to them. We know from research that taking part in arts based activities has numerous benefits including that on mental and physical health and wellbeing. This funding would allow our group to continue running that little bit longer. 

costs: £540 artist fee (3hrs a week for 12 weeks , £360 materials, £100 food and drinks budget)

Costings - Jewsons

Thermal lining for shed walls 12x2400x37.5mm £39.00 per sheet  -  £585.00

Sandtex masionary paint 10 litre pots  £43.89 per pot                     - £263.34

total goods - £848.34   VAT - 169.67    Total Net £1018.01

 

total costing 1018.01

 

we have currently aquired the building behind the original community shed which has had to be kitted out to the same standards as the other building, this will host mainly the she shed with the initial craft and storage areas. this is with an added COSHH room for resin solvents and other chemical supplies, a resin room with ventilation and also a small pop up shop where our crafts can be better displayed and purchased by anyone. the main reason we are asking for the grant is to make sure that the coming winter months the shed will be covered to safeguard against the colder weather also it habitable for anyone visiting or working in the shed. due to many of our members with health conditions being kept warm offers some relief and comfort to everyone.

any amounts overwith will be funded by ourself. 

We would like to establish a sewing group where people can learn skills for life and hobbies for well-being and fun. There would be no cost except to ask for a donation, if possible, for the food bank in Ardeer Community Centre.

Being part of such a group can encourage self reliance, reduce social isolation and be of benefit to all who participate.

In learning to sew and mend items of clothing, we can reduce waste and promote sustainability, in our community thereby avoiding waste.

In cold weather, we can provide a warm space. All equipment, including sewing machines, will be available for use at the classes, free of charge. Fabric and thread for projects will be provided as well as tea/coffee and biscuits.

Health & Well-being will be enhanced from social inter-action, learning new skills will build confidence and satisfaction will be achieved as we support the production of items for gifts and home use.  We will promote reducing waste by encouraging simple mending skills. 

By bringing people together to learn at Ardeer Community Centre, we hope to further promote the centre as a hub of  our community, encouraging all to engage in learning through fun.

 

The project will see 60 apple, pear and plum trees planted in Holm Green. The public will be free to pick the fruit each year for their own use. This project is part of a wider movement of planting community orchards across the local area. The trees will cost approximately £2300. We are seeking £1000 from the Participatory Budgeting fund.

We are launching Connections for Families CIC to better support whole families raising children and young people with Additional Support Needs (ASN). Before we begin, we want to listen. This pilot project will run a welcoming community event where parents, carers, siblings, and wider networks can come together, hear our plans, and have their say.

This event will create a safe and inclusive space for families to share what matters most to them. We will introduce our new whole-family approach, which focuses on strengthening resilience, reducing isolation, and improving wellbeing. Families will help shape what services and activities should look like—whether that’s peer support, practical workshops, advocacy, or family activities.

The pilot will also build community spirit by connecting families who often feel isolated, offering an opportunity to meet others with similar experiences. With refreshments, child-friendly spaces, and trained facilitators and childcare support, the sessions will be accessible and supportive.

By piloting CCF, we will gather real feedback, test what works, and ensure the future of Connections for Families CIC is led by families themselves. This grant will allow us to make sure our new service is truly community-designed.

Costs

Days events and preperation

Room Hire: 1 room for 6 hrs = £120

Marketing Materials: £50

Hospitality: Based on 30 attendees @ £8 per head £240

Childcare: 2 specialist workers to supervise children £198

Materials and Equipment for the event: £190 ie, hand outs, flare and books 

Event Staff and prep time: £200

Total: £998

 

 

The group meets every Wednesday, offering a welcoming space to bring people together. It is positve and supportive, allowing people space to chat, to share experiences, and to work towards better health and wellbeing. It is free and open to all adults who may find themselves struggling and feeling overwhelmed with life. The group aims to reduce social isolation and to help people to feel more confident and connected to their local community. Many of the group members have experineced trauma, addiction or bereavement and appreciate the chance to connect and to chat. The group in in an accessible location and is a great place for people to find out what else is going on the their community and to access other actvities in the centre, eg, the Argyle Community Shop, Money Smart debt services or Quit Your Way. 

The funding we are looking for will go towards:

• Room lets each week in the Argyle Community Centre - £360
• Cost of teas, coffees & snacks each week - £150
• The cost of publicity materials for promoting the group to the wider community - £90
• Cost of craft activities, games or speakers which the group decides - £200
• Cost of Christmas lunch together and a summer outing as a group to create new experiences and memories, improving mental health and isolation - £200